Miniature rose plant named &#39;Meivoufal&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the Miniature Class is provided which abundantly forms attractive double yellow blossoms of good color stability. The growth habit is low compact and bushy. Decorative dense dark green semi-glossy foliage is formed that contrasts nicely with the yellow blossoms.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

[0001]Rosa hybrida/Miniature Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

[0002] cv. ‘Meivoufal’

[0003] This is a Continuation of U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.10/288,511, filed Nov. 6, 2002, which is a Continuation of U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 09/573,162, filed May 19, 2000 (nowabandoned).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The new variety of Miniature rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was the ‘Savaje’ variety (non-patented in the United States).The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the product of thepollination of the ‘Playboy’ variety (non-patented in the United States)and the ‘Lavglo’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,136). The parentage ofthe new variety can be summarized as follows:

‘Savaje’×(‘Playboy’×‘Lavglo’).

[0005] The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown andsmall plants were obtained which were physically and biologicallydifferent from each other. Selective study resulted in theidentification of a single plant of the new variety.

[0006] It was found that the new variety of Miniature rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

[0007] (a) exhibits a low compact and bushy growth habit,

[0008] (b) forms in abundance attractive double yellow blossoms of goodcolor stability, and

[0009] (c) forms decorative dense dark green semi-glossy foliage.

[0010] The bearing is very floriferous. The profusion of yellow blossomscontrast nicely with the dense dark green foliage.

[0011] The new variety of the present invention can be readilydistinguished from its ancestors. For instance, the ‘Savaje’ varietyforms larger flowers, the ‘Playboy’ variety forms flowers that aresingle to semi-double unlike the new variety, and the ‘Lavglo’ varietydisplays more petals per bloom. The flowers of the ‘Poulgelb’ variety(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,401) tend to be smaller and of a slightly lighteryellow coloration.

[0012] The new variety well meets the needs of the horticulturalindustry. It is particularly well-suited for pot forcing undergreenhouse growing conditions to form an attractive gift plant.

[0013] The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation inFrance by a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage.Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned methods as performed in theSouth of France has shown that the characteristics of the new varietyare strictly transmissible from one generation to another.

[0014] The new variety has been named the ‘Meivoufal’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

[0015] The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of thischaracter, typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. Therose plants of the new variety were two years of age and were observedduring November while growing on their own roots in greenhouses atLeCannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters are shown atthe bottom of the photograph.

[0016]FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

[0017]FIG. 2—illustrates specimens of two floral buds before the openingof the sepals;

[0018]FIG. 3—illustrates specimens of two floral buds at the opening ofthe sepals;

[0019]FIG. 4—illustrates specimens of two floral buds at the opening ofthe petals;

[0020]FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower during the course ofopening;

[0021]FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

[0022]FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

[0023]FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—planview—obverse;

[0024]FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—planview—reverse;

[0025]FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

[0026]FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

[0027]FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

[0028]FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

[0029]FIG. 14—illustrates specimens of two leaves with three leafletswith the upper surface being shown at the top and the under surfacebeing shown at the bottom; and

[0030]FIG. 15—illustrates specimens of two leaves with five leafletswith the upper surface being shown at the top and the under surfacebeing shown at the bottom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of TheRoyal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The terminology whichprecedes reference to the chart has been added in some instances toindicate the corresponding colors in more common terms. The descriptionis based on the observation of nine months old specimens of the newvariety which were observed during March while growing on their ownroots in greenhouses at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France.

[0032] Class: Dwarf Miniature.

[0033] Plant:

[0034]Height.—approximately 20 to 25 cm. on average at the end of thegrowing season.

[0035]Width.—approximately 30 to 35 cm. on average at the end of thegrowing season.

[0036]Habit.—bushy.

[0037] Branches:

[0038]Color.—young stems: near Green Group 143A with anthocyanincoloration near Greyed-Orange Group 176C. — adult wood: nearYellow-Green Group 146C.

[0039]Thorns.—size: medium, and approximately 4 mm. in length onaverage. — quantity: very sparse as illustrated. — color: immaturethorns are pale green, near Yellow-Green Group 145C suffused withGreyed-Red Group 182D, and mature thorns are near Yellow-Green Group145C and only slightly suffused with Greyed-Red Group 182D. —configuration: fairly straight.

[0040] Leaves:

[0041]Petioles.—upper surface: non-glandular, and near Green Group 137Awith light anthocyanin coloration near Greyed-Orange Group 176A. — undersurface: pale green with numerous small prickles.

[0042]Rachis.—possesses a smooth surface texture.

[0043]Stipules.—adnate, pectinate, near Green Group 137C in coloration,approximately 6 mm. in length and approximately 2 mm. in width onaverage.

[0044]Leaflets.—number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. — shape: with an acutetip and an obtuse base (as illustrated). — size: the terminal leafletsare commonly approximately 3 to 3.2 cm. in length on average andapproximately 2 cm. in width on average. — texture: smooth. — serration:minute and regular. — general appearance: very dense, dark green andsemi-glossy. — color (young foliage): upper surface: near Green Group137B. under surface: near Green Group 137C. — color (adult foliage):upper surface: dark green near Green Group 137A. under surface: nearGreen Group 137D.

[0045] Inflorescence:

[0046]Number of flowers.—commonly approximately 2 to 5 per stem.

[0047]Peduncle.—short, without prickles, near Green Group 137C withanthocyanin coloration near Greyed-Orange Group 176A, and the lengthcommonly is approximately 4 to 4.5 cm. on average.

[0048]Sepals.—upper surface: tomentose, and near Green Group 138B. —under surface: glabrous and near Green Group 138A. — size: commonlyapproximately 2.5 cm. in length, and with extensions.

[0049]Buds.—shape: conical. — size: medium for class, and approximately1.5 cm. in length.

[0050]Flower.—form: double and cup-shaped. — diameter: approximately 4.5to 5 cm. on average when fully open. — color (when opening begins):upper surface: near Yellow Group 12A. under surface: near Yellow Group12A. — color (when blooming): upper surface: near Yellow Group 12A.under surface: near Yellow Group 12A. — color (at end of opening): uppersurface: near Yellow Group 12A and 12B. under surface: near Yellow Group12A and 12B. — petal form: with reflexed edges. — petal shape: generallyoval. — petal number: commonly approximately 43 to 45 on average. —petal size: the external petals commonly are approximately 2 cm. inlength and approximately 2 cm. in width. — petal apex: pointed. — petalbase: wedge-shaped. — petal texture: physically moderately firm. —petaloids: none observed to date. — basal spot on petals: none observedto date. — fragrance: none. — anthers: yellow, near Yellow Group 12B. —stamen number: approximately 68 on average. — filaments: approximately0.4 cm. in length, and yellow, near Yellow Group 12B, in coloration. —pistil number: approximately 57 on average. — petal configuration:wedge-shaped. — pistil color: the stigma and style near Yellow-GreenGroup 145A and 145B. — stigmas: near Yellow-Green Group 145A and 145B. —styles: approximately 0.3 cm. in length on average, and nearYellow-Green Group 145A and 145B in coloration. — receptacle: mediumgreen, near Green Group 138A, approximately 0.8 cm. in length andapproximately 0.5 to 0.6 cm. in width on average, and in longitudinalsection in the shape of a funnel. — lasting quality: approximately 10days on average on the plant. — petal drop: good, the petals detachwell.

[0051] Development:

[0052]Vegetation.—strong.

[0053]Blooming.—very abundant.

[0054]Resistance to diseases.—good under greenhouse growing conditionswith respect to Powdery Mildew.

[0055]Propensity to form hips.—none observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Miniature rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a)exhibits a low compact and bushy growth habit, (b) forms in abundanceattractive double yellow blossoms of good color stability, and (c) formsdecorative dense dark green semi-glossy foliage; substantially as hereinshown and described.